Light cardio in AM while gaining?

[artylives76]

Hi. Newbie here. I'm trying to bulk up some and understand you need to limit your cardio if you're trying to build muscle. However, I'm a big fan of cardio and my fear is gaining more fat. I'm actually a skinny guy 130lbs 5'6, but my body fat percentage is 25% which is considered high. My trainer put together a routine for me and told me not to overdo it on the cardio, but would taking a 5-10 jog first thing in the AM be detrimental? I'd like to do it so I can kickstart my metabolism and feel energized before going to work.

 

[CaptainNapalm]

Light cardio in moderation is never a bad idea while gaining. Cardio will not make you lose muscle mass or hault your goal of bulking. Excessive cardio will make you burn extra calories that's about it but provided your diet and resistance training as well as rest periods are on ball I can see doing nothing but good for you. Since you love cardio I think your trainer is worried that you may overdo it, meaning go run marathon lengths everyday in the morning, burn a lot of calories, not make up for them in your diet and strain your system so that while you do resistance training you're not 100%. Just do it in moderation and you'll be good. Heck it will probably help you breathe better and stronger while you do heavy weights.

 

[alterntego]

i like a lite cardio in the a.m. w, some abs . and stretching . it sets the pace for the day and helps me to eat all the food i have to ingest through the day. and i feel great. usually 3-4 times a week . my savage work outs do the rest.

 

[MDR]

If you are really 25% body fat, you should be doing more than 10 minutes of cardio. Forget about bulking and cutting and just get into shape. Read up on diet on this forum and focus on dropping some bodyfat.

 

[Built]

If you really are 25% bodyfat, cardio won't do much for you but your diet will. Other than this, I agree with MDR and focus on dropping some bodyfat.

 

[MDR]

I always had the best luck with longer sessions of low-impact cardio, coupled with strength-training. I do think the very act of working out helps me to maintain and be more consistent with my diet. I may not be altering my physique through cardio alone, but I think the combination of all the elements kind of work together. Diet is #1 without a doubt, but it does seem to me that my diet improves when I am leading a "healthy lifestyle". Just what seems to work for me personally.

 

[artylives76]

thanks everyone! well with my workout plan (2-3 days a week), I do 7 minutes of light jogging @5mph, then my lifting (free-motion squats, chest, arms), and cooldown on the bike for like 6-8 minutes to get the lactic acid out.

on my off days, i bike for 6-8min, do abs, then laps for about 15-20 minutes in the pool.

 

[Built]

Given your further explanation MDR, you're right on the money.

 

[theCaptn']

If you really are 25% bodyfat, cardio won't do much for you but your diet will. Other than this, I agree with MDR and focus on dropping some bodyfat.

def. diet . . but Im a fan of fasted AM cardio . . drop in some caffine, and some BCAAs to prevent muscle wastage . .

. . recommend 45min interval training, or HIIT .. look into carb cycling diets like UDII . . it can be tweaked for bulking, you just need to keep tight control of your diet

 

[PushAndPull]

Light cardio in moderation is never a bad idea while gaining. Cardio will not make you lose muscle mass or hault your goal of bulking. Excessive cardio will make you burn extra calories that's about it but provided your diet and resistance training as well as rest periods are on ball I can see doing nothing but good for you. Since you love cardio I think your trainer is worried that you may overdo it, meaning go run marathon lengths everyday in the morning, burn a lot of calories, not make up for them in your diet and strain your system so that while you do resistance training you're not 100%. Just do it in moderation and you'll be good. Heck it will probably help you breathe better and stronger while you do heavy weights.

Agreed.